Herald & Tribune Publisher Lynn Richardson has been named president of the Tennessee Press Association, the trade association of daily and non-daily newspapers across the state.

Richardson accepted the position at an induction ceremony held June 14 in Memphis.

She is a native of Princeton, W.Va., and a graduate of Concord College in Athens, W.Va., where she received a bachelor of science in elementary education with a specialization in music. She earned a certification in journalism from East Tennessee State University.

Richardson started her career in journalism, writing for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph while attending college. After graduation, she went to work at her alma mater, serving as Concord’s director of public information.

In 1979, she was hired by the Johnson City Press (then known as the Press-Chronicle) to start and direct the newspaper’s first Newspapers In Education Program, which aims to get newspapers into the hands of children.

In 1999, Richardson became the general manager of the Herald & Tribune in Jonesborough. She was named publisher in 2004.

Under her leadership, the Herald & Tribune has received the TPA’s General Excellence Award as well as multiple awards for investigative, editorial, news and feature writing, photography, newspaper design, promotions and ad design.

The paper has also received recognition from the Washington Post and Presstime magazine for a Community Awareness Project done in conjunction with the Town of Jonesborough.

Richardson lives with her husband, Dean Batchelder, in Elizabethton. Their family includes three children — daughter, Keely Goodwin, and husband, Nathan Goodwin, who are expecting their first child later this summer; son, Matt Batchelder, and wife, Michelle Batchelder; and son, Cory Richardson.

As president, Richardson will work closely with the state’s newspapers, to emphasize the importance of public notice and open government as well as focus on literacy efforts.